On June 21, 2024, new GM Don Waddell took care of a piece of business that many considered vital. Almost a year later, people wonder if that business will ever pan out. 

The business that Waddell took care of was signing forward Yegor Chinakhov. 

Chinakhov was signed to a two-year, $4,200,000 contract that carries a cap hit of $2.1 million per season, and many Jackets fans were excited that he was signed. His potential is off the charts.

The 2024-25 season came around, and it was Yegor Chinakhov's time to shine. "Chinny," as he is known by everyone in Columbus, started hot by scoring three goals and totaling 7 points in the first five games of the season. Chinakhov had arrived. 

November 27th came around, and he had scored 7 goals and had 14 points in 21 games.  And then that was it, he was injured and out. 

Chinakhov suffered what we found out months later was a back injury and was struggling to get back. Surgery was not an option, according to reports, so his only course of action was to rehab and rest.

The news came in late February that he might be making his return soon after the Stadium Series game on March 1st, and on March 4th, that news came true. Chinakhov would take the ice after missing just over three months. It didn't go well. 

With 22 games left in the season, Chinakhov was expected to come back into the lineup and help this team make it to the playoffs. That didn't happen, and he would record just a single assist in those nine games. 

Chinakhov played just 9 of the final 22 games and was a healthy scratch in the final six games of the season. Coincidentally, the CBJ won the final six games to end the year. 

Chinakhov finished with 7 goals and 15 points in 30 games. 

Yegor Chinakhov has missed approximately 153 games due to injury in four seasons, mainly due to injury. The most he's ever played is 62 games back in 21-22, and he's played in just 30 games in a season twice. 

Yegor Chinakhov has just one season left on his current deal, and then he'll be an RFA, so what will Don Waddell do with him? Chinakhov is considered a Jarmo Kekäläinen pet project, so we could assume Waddell is going to have a short leash on Chinakhov.

It's time for Chinakhov to stay healthy and show what he can do, but his time with Columbus might be coming to an end sooner rather than later. 

Let us know what you think below.

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